SHALOM; THE PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING

We live in an anxious age. Depression and anxiety rates have skyrocketed. Self-help books promise peace through positive thinking, mindfulness, or financial success. The world offers a thousand solutions to the restlessness of the human heart.

The peace the world offers is conditional and temporary. It depends on circumstances aligning just right. When any piece falters, so does our peace.

Scripture speaks of a different kind of peace entirely. Biblical peace, or shalom in Hebrew, is not merely the absence of conflict. It is wholeness, completeness, harmony with God, and restoration of what sin has broken. This peace flows from one source alone: Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

The Depth of Biblical Shalom

The Hebrew word shalom appears over 250 times in the Old Testament. While often translated as "peace," its meaning runs far deeper than our English word suggests.

Shalom describes complete flourishing. It encompasses physical health, material prosperity, harmonious relationships, and most importantly, right standing with God. When the Psalmist writes, "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace" (Psalm 29:11), he speaks of comprehensive blessing and divine favor.

The opposite of shalom is not merely war or conflict. It is brokenness, alienation, disorder, and death. Sin shattered the shalom of Eden. What God created whole, humanity fractured through rebellion.

This is why human efforts to manufacture peace always fall short. We treat symptoms while ignoring the disease. We seek peace through circumstances while remaining at war with God. True peace requires reconciliation at the deepest level.

The Problem: Peace Interrupted

Isaiah captured humanity's essential problem: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6). This wandering from God is cosmic treason, rebellion against our Creator.

The consequences are devastating. "Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you" (Isaiah 59:2). The rupture is complete.

The prophet Jeremiah warned against false peace: "They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). Religious leaders offered empty assurances while fundamental problems remained unaddressed.

Paul explains the human condition in Romans: "None is righteous, no, not one... no one seeks for God. All have turned aside" (Romans 3:10-12). We are not basically good people who occasionally stumble. We are rebels who have exchanged the glory of God for created things.

The Promise: A Coming Prince

Into this darkness, God spoke promises of coming restoration. Isaiah prophesied: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Notice the title: Prince of Peace. Not a peace negotiator or teacher, a Prince who embodies and establishes peace through His very person and work. This peace would have no end.

Isaiah continues: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns'" (Isaiah 52:7).

The prophet Micah added: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel... And he shall be their peace" (Micah 5:2, 5).

These were specific promises about a specific person who would accomplish a specific work: the restoration of peace between God and humanity.

The Fulfillment: Peace Made Flesh

When angels appeared to shepherds outside Bethlehem, they announced: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke 2:14). The promised Prince had arrived.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus demonstrated His authority over everything that disrupts shalom. He calmed storms, healed diseases, cast out demons, and raised the dead. These were signs pointing to His identity as the One who restores all things.

When He healed the paralytic, Jesus first said, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven" (Matthew 9:2). He addresses both spiritual and physical brokenness as the Lord of shalom.

To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus spoke peace: "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more" (John 8:11). He offered forgiveness and a new beginning.

When the sinful woman anointed His feet, Jesus declared: "Your sins are forgiven... Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:48, 50). True peace flows from forgiveness, and forgiveness flows from faith in Christ.

The Accomplishment: Peace Through the Cross

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).

His peace differs fundamentally from what the world offers. The world's peace depends on circumstances. Christ's peace overcomes circumstances.

On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of human sin and divine judgment. The separation between God and humanity was bridged by His sacrifice.

Paul explains: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Notice the past tense: we have peace. Not we might have peace if we behave well enough. We have peace now, established through Christ's finished work.

He continues: "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:10). While we were still enemies, Christ died for us.

Colossians declares: "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him" (Colossians 1:21-22).

Ephesians provides the most comprehensive explanation: "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility... that he might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility" (Ephesians 2:14-16).

Christ himself is our peace. Through His death, He destroyed the hostility between us and God. The war is over for those who are in Christ.

The Experience: Peace in the Storm

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His terrified disciples. His first words? "Peace be with you" (John 20:19). He showed them His wounds, proof of His identity and sacrifice. Then again: "Peace be with you" (John 20:21).

This peace was not dependent on their circumstances. They were still hunted by authorities. They still faced persecution. The peace Jesus offered transcended all of that.

Paul writes: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). This peace defies logic. It surpasses understanding precisely because it does not originate in our circumstances. It flows from our position in Christ.

Jesus warned His followers: "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). In the world, you will have tribulation. Where is peace found? In Christ. Not in the absence of tribulation, in the presence of Christ in the midst of tribulation.

This is why believers throughout history have faced torture and persecution with supernatural peace. Their circumstances were horrific. Their position in Christ was secure.

The Command: Pursue Peace

Having received peace with God through Christ, believers are called to pursue peace with others. "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18).

Jesus said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Peacemaking actively pursues reconciliation, following the pattern of what God has done for us in Christ.

The writer of Hebrews commands: "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Peace and holiness are linked. Our relationships with others reflect our relationship with God.

The Contrast: Peace the World Cannot Provide

The world offers many substitutes for biblical peace. Material comfort, entertainment, achievement, relationships, all promise to quiet the restless heart. None succeed.

Augustine famously prayed: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." The human heart was designed for relationship with God. Nothing else fits the God-shaped void within us.

Isaiah prophesied: "'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked'" (Isaiah 48:22). Those who remain in rebellion against God cannot experience true shalom. They may experience temporary calm, they cannot have genuine peace with their Creator.

The world's peace is circumstantial. Christ's peace is positional. The world's peace depends on favorable conditions. Christ's peace depends on His finished work.

The Future: Perfect Peace

The peace we experience now is real and powerful. It is also incomplete. We live between the "already" and the "not yet."

Isaiah prophesied: "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). Christ's peaceful reign continues to expand and will reach its consummation when He returns.

Revelation pictures the culmination: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). Every disruption to shalom will be removed. Perfect peace will reign.

Until then, we live as ambassadors of reconciliation. Paul writes: "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation... Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:18, 20).

The Invitation: Come and Find Rest

Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).

This is not an invitation to try harder or do better. It is an invitation to come to Him, to cease striving and receive what only He can give. Rest for your soul. Peace that surpasses understanding. Reconciliation with the God who made you.

The question is simple: Where are you seeking peace? In circumstances? In achievement? In relationships? In your own efforts to be good enough?

Or have you come to Christ, the Prince of Peace, the only One who can reconcile you to God and give you true shalom?

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

This is the gospel. Peace with God is possible, freely offered, fully accomplished by Christ. Will you receive it?

Pray out loud;

“LORD I REPENT OF MY SIN, I ACCEPT YOU IN MY HEART & I RECEIVE YOUR PEACE. SHOW ME WHO YOU ARE, TEACH ME YOUR WAYS.”

Everything = Everything

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